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Monday, March 2, 2015

I realize that it has been ages since my last post but I have a great excuse.

For the past several months I have been creating work for a new collection with Transpac. "Sew Happy" debuted at the Atlanta Show in July.

Just when I thought I would be able to take a breather, the word came in that it was a HIT! That meant that I had to get on some new work for the Spring release asap. I stopped counting at something like 26 new images in 3 weeks.

Given some of the deadlines, this has been quite challenging, I have never been so tired and brain dead while at the same time so excited and inspired. It's an awesome problem to have.

The line consists of decorative banners, Write On banners (like a giant greeting card) and pillows, mini canvases and art in sewing hoops. All have a stitched on embellishment.

I got to work with some amazingly talented people on this project and I am thrilled with how everything turned out.

As soon as it is in stores, I will be sure to tell you where you can find products. Meanwhile, here are a few photos from the showroom.

"Cheers" is a Write On Banner. It comes with a marker and you (or a group) can add signatures.

"Laundry" is a decorative Banner, it's one of my favorites.

Sewing Hoops, Mini Canvases and an Autograph-able Pillow with a space for a photo.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

I have been going back and forth to Dallas to do showroom set up for Midwest/CBK and I arrived there Sunday night. For whatever reason, I started thinking about how I have been wanting to write or start journaling. Lately I have been waking up, making breakfast and turning on the television or heading straight to the computer; two nasty habits that I have been wanting to break.

There is a lot spinning around in my head, career wise, and it seems like a good idea to get some of these thoughts on paper. I also have a couple of children's book ideas in my head.
While I was walking back from picking up dinner I thought, " Well, why not start tomorrow morning?".

My new plan is that I get up and have to write for 15 minutes before I can do anything. It's amazingly easy.

Now for the funny thing.......

The great writing experiment (what I am calling it) started in my hotel room in Dallas on December 1. I ate breakfast, wrote in my journal and went down to the lobby to check my email. The first email that popped up was from Beth Nichols/Do What You Love promoting a new Winter Writing Workshop and it's FREE! Frances Booth author of "The Distraction Trap" is the workshop leader.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

The other night the husband and I were just finishing dinner when "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" came on. It was a double header, "This is America" came on next. Needless to say, we watched them both.
When the credits were rolling I was reminded of the time I was in France at Les Soeurs Anglaises and had the pleasure of meeting Dean Spille and his wife Billie. The husband was impressed.

Dean worked as a color stylist on many of the Charlie Brown specials and, having grown up with Charlie Brown, it was like meeting royalty. His wife, Billie, is also a talented artist. They are two of the kindest, most sharing people I have had the good fortune to meet.

At the time they were living in a village near Bordeaux and touring their studios and home was magical. To mark the occasion I purchased one of Billie's works on paper and I think of that visit every time I walk by it.

I just read that although "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is now 41 years old, it managed to tie "Survivor" as the Number 1 program of the night. I couldn't be happier.

Friday, October 31, 2014

To know me is to know that I love bad Science Fiction and Horror movies; the badder the better.
As I write this I am watching "War-Gods of the Deep". Vincent Price is engaged in an underwater battle with some people that he was holding captive in his castle (of course). I'm not exactly sure what's going on because I tuned in in the middle of it, but it doesn't matter, I'm not moving from the sofa until this is over.

As a kid, I loved vampire movies and before I decided on an art career I wanted to be a vampire. I could never understand why a person wouldn't want to be a vampire. You had a rich, handsome vampire husband, you lived forever (in a castle), got to stay up late and you got to wear really stylish clothing. What's not to love? Sure there's that pesky drinking blood thing but I figured if you're rich you could just buy blood. If I remember correctly, my vampiress name was going to be Carlotta.

Fortunately I had a mother who indulged this obsession and would let me stay up late to watch these movies. Come to think of it, she probably liked them as much as I did.

I was also devoted to shows like "The Outer Limits", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Twilight Zone". In a funny way, some of these shows made me think that anything was possible and that has stuck with me to this day.

In honor of Halloween, there are a few channels who are running these movies all day. I'm pretty sure I won't be getting much work done.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Well another ArtBiz Jam is under our belts and it was just as fantastic as the first, if I may say so myself.

We changed things up a little this year and worked on putting a coastal collection together. After-all, we were at the beach. A separate workspace was added and everyone made artist trading cards to exchange. An ArtBiz Jam theme song was written by some especially talented people (you know who you are) and, thanks to Willie Green-Aldridge, we all learned about Gelli Plates.

Much like last year, the laughter never stopped.

Special thanks to Ingrid Liss from Demdaco for being this years guest speaker. Everyone agreed that her talks about licensing were informative and insightful. There is nothing quite like having someone as talented and creative as Ingrid right at your finger tips for several days.

Having these gatherings always reminds me of what a special, giving, caring and silly group the licensing and illustration community is. Putting something like this together is hard work but being with such a wonderful group of people makes it all worthwhile. We are already talking about what next years will be like.

Monday, April 14, 2014

It seems that spring has finally arrived and, once again, I have the itch to go through and sort things.

While going through some older art work I found images for a travel calendar that I did for The Lang Companies, back when I was a full time staff artist for them.

The title was "Around the World" and it was produced in 2011. The original concept called for a vertical format and two versions, European and US cities. The European version was produced but switched to a horizontal format. The US version was never made.

I distinctly remember these images being a real challenge in a positive way. My grandfather traveled for business and I incorporated some of the postcards he sent to my sister and I as well as other personal pieces of ephemera. And although my style has changed a bit over the years, these images remain some of my favorite.

That said, I have decided to sell some of them. I would rather they end up in a place where they will be displayed and appreciated, rather than in a box on a shelf. Some of them have already been purchased and I have hung on to a few for old times sake but the rest are up for grabs.

If you are interested, please visit my etsy store or check out my Pinterest page.

In the near future I will be adding the US cities and originals from the "Girlfriends" calendars I did from 2007-2011.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

It was created by Karene' Wedekind and I LOVE it. The colors, the message, the stitching. Oh so nice.

There is something magical about receiving a card created just for you that you can hold in your hands. I really liked that this came as a postcard without an envelope, the stamps and postmarks added to the final image.

The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap is put together by Do What You Love For Life. I encourage you to sign up for next year, I know I will!